Patents by Inventor Roland Auberger

Roland Auberger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20190307582
    Abstract: A joint device with an upper part and a lower part which are mounted on each other so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, a hydraulic unit secured on the upper part and the lower part, and a housing in which a cylinder is arranged. A working piston is arranged in the cylinder and is coupled to at least one spring mechanism which transmits tensile forces and compressive forces and which engages on at least one abutment arranged displaceably inside the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Otto Bock Healthcare Products GmbH
    Inventors: Martin SEYR, Harald SIMA, Roland AUBERGER
  • Publication number: 20180200082
    Abstract: A method for controlling an artificial orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, on which a lower-leg component is arranged and with which a resistance device is associated, the bending resistance (R) of which resistance device is changed in dependence on sensor data that are determined by means of at least one sensor during the use of the orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, wherein a linear acceleration (aF) of the lower-leg component is determined, the determined linear acceleration (aF) is compared with at least one threshold value, and, if a threshold value of the linear acceleration (aF) of the lower-leg component is reached, the bending resistance (R) is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Roland AUBERGER, Martin SEYR, Clemens MANDL, Dirk SEIFERT, Hans DIETL
  • Patent number: 9968468
    Abstract: A method for controlling an artificial orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, on which a lower-leg component is arranged and with which a resistance device is associated, the bending resistance (R) of which resistance device is changed in dependence on sensor data that are determined by means of at least one sensor during the use of the orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, wherein a linear acceleration (aF) of the lower-leg component is determined, the determined linear acceleration (aF) is compared with at least one threshold value, and, if a threshold value of the linear acceleration (aF) of the lower-leg component is reached, the bending resistance (R) is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Auberger, Martin Seyr, Clemens Mandl, Dirk Seifert, Hans Dietl
  • Publication number: 20180098864
    Abstract: An actuator-damper unit for use in orthotic or prosthetic devices. The actuator-damper unit includes a housing which may be fastened on the orthotic or prosthetic device and in which a cylinder is formed. A first piston is displaceably mounted in the cylinder and is coupled to a piston rod. The piston rod is disposed, via a first end, on the first piston and may be coupled, via a second end, to the orthotic or prosthetic device. The first piston separates two fluid chambers in the cylinder from each other and forms a piston-cylinder unit, wherein at least one further piston is coupled to the first piston in order to form at least one further, variable-volume fluid chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Roland AUBERGER, Harald SIMA, Martin SEYR
  • Publication number: 20180028390
    Abstract: An orthopedic system having at least one stimulation electrode for activating at least one muscle, an orthotic or prosthetic device, which may be placed on a patient's body and secured there with at least one joint by which a proximal and a distal component of the orthotic or prosthetic device are connected to each other in swivelling fashion, at least one adjustable resistance device which is arranged between the distal component and the proximal component and with which a motion resistance against a swivelling of the proximal component relative to the distal component is adjustable, sensors for detecting of forces positions, accelerations and/or torques, and a control device which is coupled to the sensors and the resistance device, processes sensor values of the sensors and adjusts the resistance device in dependence on the sensor values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Hans DIETL, Roland AUBERGER, Michael Friedrich RUSSOLD, Christian HOFER
  • Patent number: 9649215
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting clement (5) between two orthopedic components, in particular prosthesis or orthosis components, which are rigidly coupled to one another and comprise a top part (2) and a bottom part (8). The connecting element (5) has a laminar structure, and at least one sensor (20) is arranged in the connecting element (5) in order to determine an effective moment or an effective force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Jeff Friesen, Roland Auberger
  • Publication number: 20160206447
    Abstract: A method for controlling an artificial orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, on which a lower-leg component is arranged and with which a resistance device is associated, the bending resistance (R) of which resistance device is changed in dependence on sensor data that are determined by means of at least one sensor during the use of the orthotic or prosthetic knee joint, wherein a linear acceleration (aF) of the lower-leg component is determined, the determined linear acceleration (aF) is compared with at least one threshold value, and, if a threshold value of the linear acceleration (aF) of the lower-leg component is reached, the bending resistance (R) is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Roland AUBERGER, Martin SEYR, Clemens MANDL, Dirk SEIFERT, Hans DIETL
  • Publication number: 20160151190
    Abstract: An orthosis joint having a base body which comprises a receptacle for a proximal component, a bearing point for a distal component which is pivotally arranged on the base body, and for stops or spring elements which are acting on the distal component. The orthosis joint also includes at least one receiving element, releasably fastened to the base body and in or on which a functional element that interacts with the distal component is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Marcus LURSSEN, David HOCHMANN, Roland AUBERGER, Gordon SIEWERT, Christian BREUER-RUESCH
  • Publication number: 20150230962
    Abstract: A knee orthosis and a method for controlling a knee orthosis including a thigh structure having a fastening structure to be fixed to a thigh, a lower leg structure which is pivotally coupled to the thigh rail using a joint mechanism and has a fastening structure to be fixed to a lower leg as well as a foot piece for supporting a foot, and an actuator device between the thigh structure and the lower leg structure. The fastening points of the actuator on the thigh structure and lower leg structure and the center of rotation of the joint mechanism form a triangle. The fastening points are arranged on the structures such that the connecting line between the fastening points extends perpendicular to a connecting line between a fastening point and the center of rotation in an angular position of the knee in which the lower leg is bent at an angle ranging from 0° to 90° relative to the thigh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Roland AUBERGER, Kelvin B. JAMES
  • Patent number: 9022965
    Abstract: A knee orthosis and a method for controlling a knee orthosis including a thigh structure having a fastening structure to be fixed to a thigh, a lower leg structure which is pivotally coupled to the thigh rail using a joint mechanism and has a fastening structure to be fixed to a lower leg as well as a foot piece for supporting a foot, and an actuator device between the thigh structure and the lower leg structure. The fastening points of the actuator on the thigh structure and lower leg structure and the center of rotation of the joint mechanism form a triangle. The fastening points are arranged on the structures such that the connecting line between a fastening point and the center of rotation in an angular position of the knee in which the lower leg is bent at an angle ranging from 0° to 90° relative to the thigh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Auberger, Kelvin B. James
  • Patent number: 8083807
    Abstract: A method is provided for verifying the adjustment of a leg prosthesis. The leg prosthesis includes a prosthetic knee joint pivotally connected to an upper connection and a lower leg shaft. The upper connection fixes the leg prosthesis on a user of the leg prosthesis and the lower leg shaft fastens to a prosthetic foot. The upper connection is displaceable in relation to a joint axis of the prosthetic knee joint. The method includes measuring a knee moment and an axial force by means of sensors when leg prosthesis is being used; calculating a resultant force vector using the knee moment and the axial force; calculating a normal distance relative to the joint axis and the position of the resultant force vector in relation to the joint axis; and verifying a position of the resultant force vector relative to the joint axis in the sagittal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Auberger, Martin Pusch
  • Patent number: 7935153
    Abstract: A joint device for an orthoses or prostheses includes an upper part, a lower part mounted on the upper part in such a way as to turn about a pivot axis, and braking means that brakes or blocks a pivoting movement of the lower part relative to the upper part. The braking means includes a spiral spring arranged between two contact surfaces and is mounted such that it can be braced in the direction of the contact surfaces about a rotation axis parallel to the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare IP GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Roland Auberger
  • Publication number: 20110071452
    Abstract: The invention relates to a knee orthosis and a method for controlling a knee orthosis comprising a thigh structure that has a fastening structure to be fixed to a thigh, a lower leg structure which is pivotally coupled to the thigh rail by means of a joint mechanism and has a fastening structure to be fixed to a lower leg as well as a foot piece for supporting a foot, and an actuator device between the thigh structure and the lower leg structure. The fastening points of the actuator on the thigh structure and lower leg structure and the center of rotation of the joint mechanism form a triangle. The fastening points are arranged on the structures in such a way that the connecting line between the fastening points extends perpendicular to a connecting line between a fastening point and the center of rotation in an angular position of the knee in which the lower leg is bent at an angle ranging from 0° to 90° relative to the thigh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventor: Roland Auberger
  • Publication number: 20110066255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting clement (5) between two orthopedic components, in particular prosthesis or orthosis components, which are rigidly coupled to one another and comprise a top part (2) and a bottom part (8). The connecting element (5) has a laminar structure, and at least one sensor (20) is arranged in the connecting element (5) in order to determine an effective moment or an effective force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Jeff Friesen, Roland Auberger
  • Publication number: 20090076618
    Abstract: A joint device for an orthoses or prostheses includes an upper part, a lower part mounted on the upper part in such a way as to turn about a pivot axis, and braking means that brakes or blocks a pivoting movement of the lower part relative to the upper part. The braking means includes a spiral spring arranged between two contact surfaces and is mounted such that it can be braced in the direction of the contact surfaces about a rotation axis parallel to the pivot axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Otto Bock Healthcare IP GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Roland Auberger
  • Publication number: 20080288086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for verifying the adjustment of a prosthetic knee joint that connects a lower leg shaft, to which a prosthetic foot can be fastened, to an upper leg shaft in a manner allowing the lower leg shaft to rotate about a joint axis in order for the prosthetic knee joint to be fastened to an end of the upper leg, the upper leg shaft being movable relative to the joint axis. A knee moment and an axial force that is effective in the lower leg shaft are measured via sensors when the prosthesis is utilized. A resulting force vector with a point of attack on the upper leg shaft is calculated from said variables. The horizontal distance and the position of the resulting force vector relative to the joint axis are also calculated, and a verification is made whether and by how much the resulting force vector lies in front of or behind the joint axis on the sagittal plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Roland Auberger, Martin Pusch